I spent Monday afternoon at the White House as the guest of President Obama and the First at a celebration of International Women’s Day—not a bad way to spend a Monday.
In the company of current and future women leaders— everyone from Cabinet members to high school students—I had a moment to pause and reflect on how much has changed for women, how much we still have to accomplish, and how many women around the world continue to face serious oppression and need our help. President Obama pledged his partnership in addressing these issues.
Guest speaker Madeleine Albright especially focused on the hardships women face globally, reiterating that we cannot tolerate oppression of women anywhere—that it’s part of our responsibility as women leaders to make sure other women have the same opportunities we do.
I take her words to heart—our work to advance women’s issues here and abroad is not done—and I’m honored to have been able to represent Rhode Island at the White House for this occasion.